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deloreanant
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FEB 27, 05:33 PM
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1988 GT with stock V6, 5-speed
Okay, I know this topic has been gone over time and time again and I've read through all the topics and been to the cave, and they have not helped me. My car has been in three shops for this problem, with no findings. I have some sort of battery drain, as the topic suggests. I have hooked up the voltmeter in the past and just did it again to be sure, but there is no drain on the battery, as far as I can see, while it sits. It has not been started for a few days now. However, I have been through 10 batteries in as many years. The dash voltmeter always reads perfect. This is whats going on: If I get a new battery everything works perfectly for a few days. Then one day the car won't start and will need to be jumped. The car works fine for a day or two. After it sits for a bit it won't start again and will need to be jumped. It can go like this for about three of four jumps, then even after long trips a jump won't work unless I hook the jumper cables up directly to the battery. Of course, at that point, after every time I turn the car off I have to jump directly to the battery until I replace the battery. I had finally installed a "quick" disconnect, but with the location of the disconnect it really wasn't all that quick and became a chore to drive the car in order to not destroy the battery. When using the disconnect method the battery has lasted indefinitely (so far, just under a year). It's starting to warm up here again and I would like to be able to drive my Fiero without the hassle of disconnecting the battery every time I stop. Any and ALL help would be greatly appreciated. P.S. I'm not 100% sure I'm doing the voltmeter right, but seriously, I've used them 100 times before, not sure what I would be doing wrong, but I'm getting a read of 0.00 mA when testing but I am getting 12.76 V. I didn't think the mA should read zero.
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Patrick
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FEB 27, 05:43 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by deloreanant:
I have been through 10 batteries in as many years.
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We don't know what exactly you've had checked over the years, but have you been using the same alternator during that entire time span?[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 02-27-2016).]
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seajai
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FEB 27, 05:50 PM
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In order to test for a parasitic draw, the ammeter must be connected in series between the battery post and negative cable. This way all of the current can pass through the meter for a proper reading. Be careful not to overload your meter. Using a tester switch makes things a little more convenient.
http://www.oreillyauto.com/...C0/7645.oap?pt=N0221
There are many YouTube videos on checking parasitic draws. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF1gijj03_0[This message has been edited by seajai (edited 02-27-2016).]
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Gall757
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FEB 27, 05:51 PM
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10 batteries in 10 years? You are one patient Fiero owner. Is your VOLTS light working? You may have never seen it....it's in with the gauge.
3 shops should have known how to do a proper test......you would think.[This message has been edited by Gall757 (edited 02-27-2016).]
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deloreanant
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FEB 27, 06:18 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Patrick:
We don't know what exactly you've checked over the years, but have you changed or tested your alternator? |
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Good question. I have not. Since it seems to charge the battery while driving, the voltmeter in the car always reads fine, and it dies while sitting (when the alternator is doing anything) I have considered it low on the list of possible culprits.
For fun, if it turns out the be an alternator issue, I will punch myself in the face and post the video here. I could have saved 10 years of headaches.
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deloreanant
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FEB 27, 06:20 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Gall757:
10 batteries in 10 years? You are one patient Fiero owner. Is your VOLTS light working? You may have never seen it....it's in with the gauge.
3 shops should have known how to do a proper test......you would think.
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One would think. I won't name the shops, as two of them should be quite familiar to everyone here.
I guess I don't know if my volts light is working. The meter certainly is.
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viperine
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FEB 27, 06:26 PM
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Have the alternator tested AND inspect the alternator bracket for cracks. I had similar issues that allowed me to drive, and it turned out that the alternator bracket had cracked. A good pothole finished the job for me.
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Patrick
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FEB 27, 07:02 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by deloreanant:
For fun, if it turns out the be an alternator issue, I will punch myself in the face and post the video here. I could have saved 10 years of headaches.
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Well, I mentioned the alternator as I have heard of them shorting/grounding out internally while sitting.
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Gall757
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FEB 27, 08:13 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by deloreanant:
One would think. I won't name the shops, as two of them should be quite familiar to everyone here.
I guess I don't know if my volts light is working. The meter certainly is.
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A Fiero needs a functioning VOLTS light to charge the battery. It sounds stupid...but it's true.
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Thunderstruck GT
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FEB 27, 08:16 PM
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This sounds like a WalMart Neverstart battery issue.
This is not a joke. What brand of battery are you using?[This message has been edited by Thunderstruck GT (edited 02-27-2016).]
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